European lawmaker says EU is committed to continuing data transfers to US

A key European commissioner on Thursday tamped down fears that Europe might withdraw from a 2023 agreement allowing cross-border data flows with the U.S., saying Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson had indicated he supports the compact and that Europe is committed to upholding it.

After the Trump administration ordered all Democratic members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) to resign, many worried the move would threaten the Transatlantic Data Privacy Framework (TDPF), an agreement that safeguards the flow of commercial data between Europe and the U.S.

The board plays a key role in the agreement because the EU has relied on the watchdog's findings to verify the U.S. is doing enough to safeguard personal data belonging to Europeans. The board’s work ensuring bulk data collection by U.S. intelligence agencies is closely restricted has been especially important to Europe.

Micheal McGrath, the European commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection, told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that the EU intends to continue honoring the framework.

“It is an objective of the European Union to continue with full implementation and enforcement of the data privacy framework,” said McGrath, who is charged with overseeing European data privacy laws. 

“It is my expectation, because of the mutual benefits that it provides for European companies, for American companies, that there is a willingness on both sides of the Atlantic to continue with this.”

The TDPF “underpins” more than a trillion dollars in Atlantic trade and investment, McGrath said.

McGrath also said he had a “very good meeting” with FTC Chair Ferguson on Thursday. 

“He reassured me of his support for the DPF so that was encouraging to hear,” he said.